Used ‘mamachari’ popular in London

Cheap, no-frills bikes find niche as replacement for theft victims

LONDON – Almost every Japanese household has one and they are an ever-present sight outside of shops and railway stations. Japan’s most common bicycle, the “mamachari” (literally mom’s bike), is used by people of all ages for short trips around the neighborhood.

But now these utility bicycles are becoming increasingly popular with Londoners looking for cheap yet reliable bikes that won’t be targeted by the capital’s prolific thieves.

Mechanic Noah Fisher, who used to live in Japan, has imported 475 secondhand mamachari from Japan and is selling them at an East London shop he opened in June with his wife, Ran.

So far, he has sold 60 mamachari, and interest is growing.

All the bikes have been fully serviced and retail for between £100 and £300 ($159 to $479).

Noah hit upon the idea after coming across many bike theft victims who were looking for a cheaper, quality replacement.

Brand new city bikes start retailing from about £300, so Noah thought that advertising a bike — albeit secondhand — under this price point would prove attractive, particularly if he could emphasize the quality.

“We don’t have bikes in Britain which can beat the mamachari on price and quality,” he said.

“Their materials and components are carefully selected and the Japanese go into such detail and think everything through. They are functional, sturdy and last over a long time.

“We get a lot of people who have lived in Japan and they hear about us and get sentimental.

“We have had several Japanese expatriates come in out of curiosity. Sometimes they think they are a little expensive. In Japan you could get a new mamachari for about ¥8,500 ($86).”

Many customers like the fact that the Japanese bikes have child seats and are not very wide, making them easy to store in narrow Victorian hallways, Noah added.

They are also lighter than reconditioned Dutch bikes, which look similar to mamachari.

Miho Kushibe-Szalai, who rides a mamachari with her son on board, said, “I was very happy to find this store and had a sense of nostalgia.

“I used to have a mamachari years ago in Japan. They are still so comfortable and I’m proud that they are still a great product, even if some mothers in Japan are now using electric bicycles!”